Lap Belt Injuries In Children Often More Severe

New research published in the August 2007 issue of the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine indicates lap belt injuries sustained by children in motor vehicle accidents can be more serious than they initially appear. Injuries to children can occur in auto accidents where they have been improperly restrained in their seatbelts. Not only can back and spinal cord injuries occur, but also rupture to the organs and major blood vessels as well as bone fractures to the back and rib cage regions. This study indicated a very high association between spinal fractures, spinal cord injuries and intra-abdominal injuries. In other words, when one of these injuries is found, the others are also likely to be found. Unfortunately, spinal fractures and intra-abdominal injuries can often be difficult to diagnose. Moreover, delayed diagnosis and treatment can be devastating. Given these new findings, we urge parents to properly restrain their children in vehicles at all times, and when using custom restrains, be sure to carefully follow the manufacturer’s directions.

ACA Offers Backpack Safety Checklist

Although they're practically a necessity for today's students, improperly worn backpacks are a leading cause of back and shoulder pain for millions of children. As students head back to school, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) offers parents the following checklist to help select the best backpack for their children:

Is the backpack the correct size for your child? The backpack should never be wider or longer than your child’s torso, and the pack should not hang more than 4 inches below the waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on the shoulders, causing your child to lean forward when walking.

Does the backpack have two wide, padded shoulder straps? Non-padded straps are not only uncomfortable, but they also can place unnecessary pressure on the neck and shoulder muscles.

Does your child use both straps? Lugging a heavy backpack by one strap can cause a disproportionate shift of weight to one side, leading to neck and muscle spasms, low-back pain, and poor posture

Are the shoulder straps adjustable? The shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be fitted to your child’s body. The backpack should be evenly centered in the middle of your child's back.

Does the backpack have a padded back? A padded back not only provides increased comfort, but also protects your child from being poked by sharp edges on school supplies (pencils, rulers, notebooks, etc.) inside the pack.

Does the pack have several compartments? A backpack with individualized compartments helps position the contents most effectively. Make sure that pointy or bulky objects are packed away from the area that will rest on your child's back, and try to place the heaviest items closet to the body.

Are all those books really necessary? If the backpack is still too heavy, talk to your child's teacher. Ask if your child could leave the heaviest books at school, and bring home only lighter hand-out materials or workbooks – or perhaps books on CD-ROM.

The ACA recommends that parents help children pack their backpacks properly and make sure children never carry more than 10 percent of their body weight. For example, a child who weighs 100 pounds shouldn’t carry a backpack heavier than 10 pounds.

Vegetables Appear To Reduce Aggressive Prostate Cancer

Previous studies have mixed results in terms of whether consuming vegetables actually reduces the risk of acquiring prostate cancer. A new study consisting of 29,361 men now indicates that while vegetable consumption may not reduce the odds of acquiring prostate cancer, it does appear to reduce the risk of acquiring aggressive advanced-stage prostate cancer. According to the findings, the most beneficial vegetables that appeared to reduce advanced prostate cancer were the cruciferous vegetables - broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage, etc. Men consuming cruciferous vegetables twice per week or more had close to a 50-percent lower risk of acquiring advanced stage prostate cancer as compared to those men consuming these vegetables once per month.

Vitamin C Slows Tumor Growth

New research has again confirmed that vitamin C and other anti-oxidants have the ability to slow the growth of certain cancerous tumors. The interesting finding with this new study was the mechanism by which anti-oxidants slow tumor growth was different from what scientists had previously expected. Rather than simply preventing DNA damage from free radical formation, anti-oxidants appear to actually undermine a tumor’s ability to grow under certain conditions. This new discovery will encourage future studies to focus on how this mechanism occurs which will ultimately help us in our battle against cancer. Researchers cautioned against consuming excessive amounts of vitamin C and/or other anti-oxidant supplements. Always consult with your chiropractor or other primary health care provider prior to altering recommended dosages of any nutritional supplements you may be consuming.